State and local partners install garden highlighting water conservation and community beautification

PALESTINE, Texas (July 31, 2017) – The Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA), City of Palestine and Texas Water Smart Foundation (TWS) are pleased to announce the installation of a water conservation demonstration garden in downtown Palestine.
“Palestine embodies the best of rural Texas,” said Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller. “The vision and focus of city and community leaders made this project possible, and their efforts will enhance the Main Street District by providing an outdoor space that is attractive and also serves as an education point to teach the public about the importance of agriculture and water conservation.”

Palestine Mayor Steve Presley said, "Palestine has made a long-term commitment to revitalizing the Main Street and downtown districts. This project creates an open-air venue where the community can gather, and where we can host visitors. I am proud of the Pionette Garden Club’s leadership in fundraising for and installing this green space. I am continually humbled by the dedication and support of private citizens who give of their personal resources to grow our city."

The project is funded through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant program and was implemented through a partnership among TDA, TWS, the Palestine Economic Development Corporation, the Pionette Garden Club and community volunteers.

The City of Palestine was awarded a Texas Water Smart grant funded through the Texas Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help design and implement the garden. The purpose of the grant is to promote Palestine as a TDA Certified Retirement Community and to support water conservation awareness.

“This project is an investment in rural Texas,” Commissioner Miller continued. “The future of our communities depends on attracting business and new residents, as well as maintaining a reliable water supply. Palestine is working to fulfill both of these goals.”

Senator Robert Nichols applauded the local efforts stating, “I would like to congratulate Palestine on receiving a Texas Water Smart Grant. Through this project, the downtown area will be enhanced and become even more of an attraction for local residents and visitors. Additionally, the garden will serve as an education tool for future generations, demonstrating the importance of water conservation for not only Palestine and East Texas, but also the whole state.”

“We are please to partner with TDA and the local communities to increase awareness about the nexus between healthy outdoor spaces, economic development, and water conservation,” Amy Graham, Chair of the Texas Water Smart Foundation said. “Because of the high level of engagement from the city and local volunteers, we know the garden will serve the community and carry forward the message about the importance of gardening and landscaping for years to come.”

To be eligible for the TDA-Texas Water Smart grant, participating communities must be enrolled in the TDA Certified Retirement Community program and select a project site that will help make the community more appealing to visitors and new residents. Because of the importance of maintaining an adequate water supply for agricultural users, projects must demonstrate outdoor water conservation techniques.

City of Palestine creates ‘Happy to Help’ content series; city services to be highlighted

Jul 27 2017 - 09:47:00 am

PALESTINE, Texas (July 27, 2017) – The City of Palestine is launching a new series of content directed towards city residents to help explain city services and codes.

The series, called “Happy to Help,” highlights a city service every month. The idea behind the series, Communications and Best Practices Officer Nate Smith said, is to create awareness of the services residents may not know about.

“’Happy to Help’ was born out of an idea to create educational materials,” Smith said. “Some residents may be new to our city and some may have lived here all their lives and don’t know all that we do. We want our residents to know the facts about their city government and the hard-working individuals who work for them.”

The series includes content in many ways, from information graphics, brochures, handouts, and videos about city services. In July, the series will debut with content on Code Enforcement. Code Enforcement, let by Community Services Director Patsy Smith, now has new brochures, graphics and a video educating the public about the division.

“In many ways, Patsy’s ideas about educating the public about Code Enforcement became the inspiration for ‘Happy to Help,’” Nate Smith said. “She knows of residents who have lived in Palestine for 20 years and did not know the regulations. If we can help educate our residents on code violations, and how to report them, it helps everyone in Palestine.”

In future months, the “Happy to Help” series will feature content about other city departments, like Finance, Customer Service, the Library, and more.

PALESTINE, Texas (July 19, 2017) – The costs of attending college are high. According to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, a year can cost up to $11,806 in tuition alone at a public university.

To help local students and parents start mapping the best route to that degree, the Palestine Public Library is offering a College Planning program at 6 p.m. on July 25 at the library.

Misti Gonzales, a financial aid advisor with Trinity Valley Community College, and career counselors will be there to talk about applying for colleges, the financial aid process and to answer questions on how not only to get into college, but paying for it as well.

“This is a great opportunity for kids going into high school or kids starting to think about college to attend,” Youth Services Librarian Jaime King said. “Parents can learn about student loans, and what services are available.”

During the program, students and parents will learn the opportunities for funding that exist, like grants, scholarships and student loans. Also available will be information on how to fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA.

The class is open to any student, regardless of school affiliation. “We would encourage homeschool parents and students who may not have a traditional school setting to attend,” King said.

For more information on the College Planning program, or any of the youth or adult services of the Palestine Public Library, contact the library at 903-729-4121, or on the web at youseemore.com/palestine.

PALESTINE, Texas (July 7, 2017) – The City of Palestine will continue its summer mosquito spraying on Friday, July 7 and Saturday, July 8.
Between the hours of 9 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. Saturday, sprayers will be dispatched to Area 5.

Area 5 encompasses the streets of Park Avenue north to Kenny Street on the east side of the city. It encompasses neighborhoods east of St. Hwy. 155 and Brushy Creek Road.

A full map of the spraying areas can be found on the City of Palestine’s website at cityofpalestinetx.com.

The City of Palestine contracts its mosquito spraying to Vector Disease Control International. Residents can make mosquito complaints to the City of Palestine Community Services Department, Environmental Services Division, at 903-731-8435.

PALESTINE, Texas (July 6, 2017) – The City of Palestine’s effort to update its zoning code moves into its second stage with a series of zoning workshops set from July 13 to July 20.

“Our update to the zoning code is going along well,” Development Services Director Jeffrey Lyons said. “We encourage everyone to participate in the next step of the process.”

The public is invited to take part in the workshops, each with a different focus of future development.

The first workshop will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 13 at the Westwood High School Fine Arts Building, 1820 Panther Blvd. The focus of the workshop will be neighborhood design guidelines.

During one exercise, the public and invited neighborhood participants will be given a set of cards showing various design elements. Then the participants will place stickers on the location of various uses, architecture, landscaping and design standards.

The second workshop will be on Tuesday, July 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Eilenberger’s Bakery, 512 N. John St. and the focus will be on development in the downtown and historic districts.

During the downtown/historic districts workshop, the public, along with invited downtown residents and business and property owners will take part in three interactive activities.

The final workshop will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the City Council Conference Room, 504 N. Queen St.. The workshop wiil focus on commercial properties along major roads and highways, like South Loop 256.

Property owners, brokers, developers and real estate agents will be invited to take part with the public. The workshop, facilitated by Lyons and Shai Roos of Stantec, will have interactive activities that are designed to give participants a way to give their opinions on future development.

The data gathered at the workshops, along with data previously obtained during earlier presentations and surveys, will then be collected by Stantec, a civil engineering and planning firm hired to be consultants for the zoning code update. Also part of the code update will be members of the Zoning Steering Committee, a group comprised of members of various boards and committees, and members of the public nominated by City Council members.

According to Lyons, the current zoning ordinance is 25 years old and is past due for a revision.